The Indiana County Child Day Care Program, known as Indi Kids, has received continued accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a national group of early childhood professionals.
Indi Kids serves as a laboratory for students in the Child Development and Family Relations degree program offered through the Department of Human Development and Environmental Studies.
To earn the continued accreditation, the child care program went through an extensive self-study process and an on-site visit by NAEYC assessors. It rated 95-99 percent in all ten of the association's early childhood program standards and more than four hundred related accreditation criteria.
“We're proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards,” Indi Kids Executive Director Marti Higgins said. “NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible. Indi Kids is committed to excellence and continued quality improvement, teaming with parents to provide high-quality care and education services.”
Many IUP students who work with Indi Kids are members of the Child and Family Studies Association, a student group for Child Development and Family Relations majors and minors and other interested students. The group received IUP's Student Organization of the Year award for 2011, based on outstanding community service.
During the 2010–11 academic year, the students volunteered for Day of Play, Family Fun Fest, Indi Kids, and Hopeful Hearts, in addition to collecting more than $1,200 in supplies for the Pathway Homeless Shelter, $500 in supplies for Hopeful Hearts, and $500 toward a new sandbox for Indi Kids.
Members of the Child and Family Studies Association recently congratulated Indiana County Child Day Care Program (Indi Kids) representatives on earning continued accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. From left: students Melissa Shiring, Emily Thomas, Devaughn Street, LaDawn Myers, and Narren Smith; teacher Jessica Wagner; head teacher Sue Trindle; and Indi Kids Executive Director Marti Higgins. (Keith Boyer photo)